Chairperson:

Dr. Adri Kok is a Specialist Physician practicing medicine at the Union and Clinton Hospitals in Alberton, South of Johannesburg, Gauteng. She received her Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery from the University of Witwatersrand in 1983. Dr Kok has gone from strength to strength having received her Fellowship of College of Medicine of SA, Master of Medicine of University of Witwatersrand, Diploma in Primary Emergency Care from the College of Medicine of SA, Honorary Fellowship of American College of Physicians, as well as Fellowship of American College of Physicians. She also received her Bachelor of Theology in 2009.

Dr Kok has been the CEO of the Faculty of Consulting Physicians of South Africa since 2004. She is also the 1st woman ever and the 1st person in Africa to have been selected as a committee member of the International Society of Internal Medicine. Dr Kok has been the Director of the South African Private Practitioners Forum since 2008 and Chairperson of the Medical Advisory and Ethics Committee of Netcare as well as numerous other Professional and Society memberships.

Dr Kok participates on numerous Advisory Boards and Speaker panels in the Pharmaceutical Industry. She gives regular talks and radio interviews on a wide variety of topics, writes numerous articles and she has also reviewed the Diabetes Mellitus for Health Care Professionals for the Foundation of Professional Development. Dr Kok also participates in numerous clinical trials and attends International and National Congresses on a regular basis.

Local Committee Members:

Dr. Aslam Amod is an Endocrinologist at the Life Chatsmed Garden Hospital in Durban. He completed his fellowship at the College of Physicians of South Africa in 1994 and was certified in Endocrinology and Metabolism in 1997. He has been an Honorary Lecturer, Department of Endocrinology & Diabetes, at Cardiff University School of Medicine, and also serves as a part-time Lecturer at the Nelson R Mandela School of Medicine in KZN. Dr Amod has participated as a Principal investigator in a number of diabetes-related trials. He is currently Chairman of the Association of Clinical Endocrinologists of South Africa, and is also a past Chairman of The Society of Endocrinology, Metabolism and Diabetes of South Africa (SEMDSA). He was also the Chairman for the 2012 SEMDSA Type 2 Diabetes Guidelines for South Africa.

Currently in private practice and part-time consultant at the medical school in Bloemfontein.  Dr. Freek Bester received his MBChB (UOFS) in 1985, M.MED (INT, UOFS) in 1993 and FCP (S.A.) in 1993. He is the Honorary President - of the Central branch of South African Medical Association and serves on the EXCO of SAMA for the last 10 years. He also served on several advisory bodies for pharmaceutical companies during the last 15 years and also is an EXCO member of the Faculty of Consulting Physicians of South Africa (FCPSA). During 2012 he was invited to serve on the Strategic Advisory Committee of the MRC Medical Device Innovation Platform.

Dr. Andrew Ramdass is a Specialist Physician in private practice at Chatsmed Garden Hospital in Durban, South Africa. He obtained a Bachelor of Science from the University of Durban – Westville in 1973 and Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery in 1978 from the University of Natal.

In 1985 he obtained the fellowship of the College of Medicine of South Africa. Dr. Ramdass has been a founding member and Director of the Faculty of Consulting Physicians of South Africa.  In addition, he is a board member and chairperson of the KZN Specialist Network. Dr. Ramdass is actively involved in continuing medical education both to General Practitioners and Specialist Physicians especially in the areas of Respiratory Medicine, Infectious Diseases, and Intensive Care. Over the years he has been an investigator in numerous clinical trials. In addition, he is a member on a number of Advisory Boards to the Pharmaceutical Industry in South Africa. Dr. Ramdass attends and participates in a number of national and international congresses.

Dr Elsa van Duuren works in private practice at the Jacaranda Hospital, Pretoria.  She did her a BMedSci, MBChB and specialised as a rheumatologist and at the University of Pretoria. She has also done a MSc (Sports Medicine).  Fields of interest are the inflammatory arthritis’ and general rheumatology, musculoskeletal ultrasound, osteoporosis and sports medicine. She is involved in various pharmaceutical trials in rheumatology and has a research interest in early arthritis. She is involved in undergraduate and postgraduate teaching at the University of Pretoria and in the private sector. She is the current president of the South African Rheumatism and Arthritis Association (SARAA) and manages the South African biologics registry.